Comic Review: Uncanny X-Men #10 – Between Nostalgia and Chaos

Uncanny X-Men #10 is an issue that balances between classic nostalgia and modern narrative chaos. Gail Simone continues her story about young mutants and veteran X-Men, delivering a mix of emotional conflicts, dynamic action, and... moments that might leave readers scratching their heads. It’s not a perfect comic, but it has enough strengths to keep readers engaged.

Torn Between Past and Present

Vulnerability Hidden Behind Humor

The issue opens with a deep, personal monologue from a character who has mostly stayed in the background until now. It’s a strong start, showcasing a more vulnerable side of the character that hasn’t been explored much in previous issues. The internal conflict is well-defined and hints at interesting future developments. Unfortunately, the tone shifts abruptly soon after, with tragic situations clashing with ill-fitting jokes, ruining the mood.

Example? A character who just thinks "we're gonna die" suddenly thanks someone for a pretzel. Or Jubilee, who, in the middle of a crisis, flirts with a cop instead of focusing on the danger. Simone seems uncertain whether she wants to tell a dark survival story or a lighthearted teen drama. The result? At times, the characters come off as detached from reality—even slightly sociopathic.

New Mutants – Still a Mystery

Even though the series is already 10 issues in, it’s still hard to remember the names and powers of the new characters. Ransom is strong, but why is he named that? Jitter has cool-looking panels (which would work great in 3D), but her abilities remain vague. And that blonde girl in samurai armor? Where did she get that? This has been a recurring problem since the start—Simone introduces too many new characters at once without giving readers time to connect with them.

Action and Art – Highlights and Flaws

Dynamic Battles and Brilliant Colors

When Uncanny X-Men #10 focuses on action, it’s really good. The scene where the new mutants team up is chaotic, but a well-coordinated chaos. The panels are full of energy, and Clayton Cowles’ lettering and Matthew Wilson’s colors add extra depth. The sequences featuring Nightcrawler are particularly great—finally, he gets the respect he deserves from random civilians.

Unfortunately, not all fight scenes land as well. In some smaller panels, the action is told rather than shown (e.g., Ember kicking Ransom is only conveyed through a sound effect). It’s a minor gripe but annoying, especially when the larger panels look fantastic.

Andrei Bressan vs. David Marquez

Andrei Bressan fills in for David Marquez in this issue and... against expectations, he does quite well. His style is less polished than Marquez’s but feels more "comic-booky"—the characters look more natural, and facial expressions are better conveyed. It’s a refreshing change after the sometimes overly stiff art in previous issues.

Final Verdict

Pros

+ Nostalgic vibe – captures the spirit of classic X-Men.

+ Nightcrawler in the spotlight – finally getting recognition.

+ Dynamic action – when it’s shown, not just described.

+ Colors and lettering – Wilson and Cowles deliver.

+ Rogue and Gambit – their romantic break is a nice touch.

Cons

- Tonal inconsistency – jumps between tragedy and comedy awkwardly.

- Underdeveloped new mutants – still hard to remember.

- Forced jokes – ruin the tension.

- Ending that forces crossovers – cheap marketing tactic.